Government must prepare for increase in number of people with Alzheimer's, charity warns
The Government is being urged to start planning for a doubling of the number of people with Alzheimer's in Ireland within two decades.
Today marks World Alzheimer's Day, and campaigners say that identifying the disease early can greatly improve the quality of life for those living with it.
Over 100,000 people in Ireland are expected to have dementia by 2036.
"It's already a huge community of people in Ireland -, both the people with a diagnosis, and those caring for them - so if you can imagine that doubling in 20 years, this really is a massive social issue, a massive health issue, and therefore a massive political issue," said Tina Leonard, head of advocacy at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
"Now there are supports and services in place, but there aren't enough."
